A political firestorm has landed at the doorstep of the Supreme Court, with a new petition demanding strong action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray—accused of igniting a wave of targeted violence against Hindi-speaking communities in Mumbai.
The petition, filed by Sunil Shukla, head of the Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena, paints a volatile picture of recent days in Mumbai’s neighborhoods like Powai and Versova. According to the plea, Thackeray’s recent Gudi Padwa rally speech—broadcast on Marathi news channel ABP Maza—allegedly crossed a dangerous line, urging confrontations against non-Marathi speakers who fail to adopt the local language.
In one part of the speech quoted in the petition, Thackeray is alleged to have declared:
“In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi… they will get a slap on the face… Every state has its language and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected.”
Shortly after the speech, the plea claims, reality mirrored rhetoric—assaults on Hindi-speaking workers were reported, with violence erupting in areas including D-Mart in Versova and Powai’s commercial zones. Shukla has further claimed that he’s received over 100 death threats and found social media posts openly calling for his murder.
But the trouble didn’t stop online. The plea also alleges that a group of about 30 MNS supporters stormed into his party office, attempting to vandalize the premises in broad daylight.
Despite repeated complaints to top state officials and the Election Commission of India, Shukla says the silence has been deafening—no FIRs, no investigations, and no police protection. With no signs of accountability on the horizon, he’s turned to the apex court, seeking urgent intervention.
The petition demands immediate police security for Shukla and his family, criminal investigations into the threats and attacks, and, in its most far-reaching ask, a directive for the Election Commission to consider stripping the MNS of its official status. It also seeks a gag order on Thackeray, to prevent further “provocative and inciteful” speeches, and calls for an independent agency or Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidents impartially.
As the nation watches the intersection of politics, identity, and law unfold on the country’s highest stage, the question now is—will the Supreme Court draw a red line, or will the rhetoric continue to spill onto the streets unchecked?
